The Operative - Willard Boyd Gardner

by Tristi Pinkston | More from this Blogger

21 May 2007 11:15 AM

Kamir Daniels is part Middle Eastern as well as being an ex-cop. When he is pulled out of hiding in his remote Timor-Leste location to go on a top secret mission for the CIA, he knows that his fluency in the Middle Eastern languages will serve him well. What he doesn't know is that his estranged wife, Rhiana, is the CIA agent who will be leading the mission.

Two years ago, while working as a police officer in Seattle, Kam intercepted a man coming out of a bar. Obviously drunk, he was getting into his car when Kam approached and told him he couldn't drive. A friend came out of the bar, told Kam he would drive the man home, and Kam left it at that. Turns out the friend had lied about driving him home. Later that night, Kam gets called to a car accident - the drunk man drove right into a family car, killing everyone but one little boy. Kam feels responsible, even though he had done his best to keep the man from driving. This guilt drove a wedge between himself and Rhiana, and he finally left, going to Timor-Leste to try, unsuccessfully, to put the past behind him. He turns to alcohol to numb the pain.

Now he's being asked by the CIA to join a covert mission. When he meets his team in Paris, he is startled to see his wife again. She makes it clear immediately that no one else on the team is to know they are married, but he can't help but act nervous. His feelings for her haven't changed, and he realizes that this mission could be the perfect chance to win her back. But she is there on business, and business only.

As Kam joins the group and they begin their operation, attempts are made on his life and he can tell this is much bigger than he anticipated. But that's part of the problem - he wasn't thoroughly briefed and actually has no idea what to expect. What strikes him the biggest blow of all is to discover that their mission is to free a hostage, someone Rhiana obviously cares for. Kam wants her back, but she apparently doesn't want him. Willing to do whatever he can to make her happy, Kam risks his life, yet again, to rescue the hostage, knowing that if he does, chances are good Rhiana will choose him over Kam.

This LDS suspense novel is full of intrigue, humor, plot twists and turns. The author is a former SWAT officer and has intimate knowledge of weapons and fighting tactics, and uses this knowledge to enrich and enliven his story. This is one of those rare finds - a novel that can be enjoyed equally by both men and women, and while it is LDS fiction, it's not preachy, and I feel could be enjoyed by a reader of any denomination.

(This book was published in 2007 by Covenant Communications.)

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Learn more about Tristi Pinkston

I've been a blogger for Families.com since August of 2006.

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